Bethlehem’s Christians muted Christmas celebrations amid conflict

The Christmas season in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, is marked by solemnity rather than celebration. The Church of the Nativity, typically bustling with pilgrims, echoes with prayers tinged with desperation, reflecting the anxieties of the Palestinian Christian community.

For a second consecutive year, the town square lacks the festive glow of a Christmas tree, a visual testament to the ongoing conflict. Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman described the atmosphere as “grim” due to the war in Gaza, stating, “Bethlehem has decided to mark Christmas without festive displays, limiting celebrations to prayers, religious rituals, and supplications to end the suffering and injustice against our people.” He added that the city aimed to “convey to the world…a grim picture of the reality in Palestine through the absence of decorations, Christmas trees, and events, in hopes of awakening the world’s conscience to work toward ending the suffering of the Palestinian people, ending the occupation, and achieving a just and comprehensive peace.”

The impact of the 14-month Gaza war and persistent West Bank tensions is palpable. The absence of tourists serves as a stark reminder of the economic hardship, with Salman lamenting that “Economically, Bethlehem is collapsing.

Due to this situation, many families were unable to provide Christmas clothes or gifts for their children. We are living in a state of anguish.” The expansion of Israeli settlements, considered illegal under international law, fuels anxieties about the future. Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, expressed solidarity with those in Gaza, saying, “Our brothers and fellow citizens in Gaza are living under destruction, death, cold, and thirst, enduring immense suffering to survive.

Our message to them is one of patience, peace, and hope. We pray for them during these days, hoping that better days are ahead and that they can join us here in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas together.”